MR. G. BENTI1AM ON ORCIIIDE.E. 331 



labella in their ' Prodromus,' aud the specific characters in their 

 ' Systema Vegetabilium,' clearly show that some at least of their 

 species belong to Dichcea ; and Eeichenbach, in examining Euiz 

 and Pavon's Orchidese in Boissier's herbarium, found the name 

 of Fernandezia attached by them to species of Dichcea, Centro- 

 petalum, and Maxillaria. Their character not being sufficient 

 to show which of the several genera with small distichous leaves 

 they had specially in view, we must follow Eeichenbach in re- 

 jecting their name altogether. In Centropetalum, Lindl., five or 

 six species, we would also include Nasonia, Lindl., as a section, 

 differing slightly in the lateral sepals being united to above the 

 middle, instead of being free from the base. The pollinarium is 

 also said to have a single entire stipes in Nasonia, and two dis- 

 tinct ones in Centropetalum ; but in the latter case we find them 

 often united to near the middle. Nasonia sanguinea, Lindl., can, 

 however, scarcely be a congener ; but we have no means of 

 examining the structure of its flowers. 



The same series would technically include four Asiatic genera 

 with the ordinary habit of the subtribe, Luisia, Cottonia, Stau- 

 ropsis, and Arachnanthe. Luisia, Gaud., about ten species, in- 

 cluding Birchea, A. Eich., and Mesoclastes, Lindl., is a natural 

 genus with definite characters. Cottonia, Wight, has two very 

 distinct species — the original C. peduncularis from the Indian 

 peninsula and Ceylon, and C. Championi, Lindl., from the eastern 

 provinces and China, from which we can scarcely distinguish, 

 even specifically, Thwaites's Luisia bicaudata from Ceylon. 

 Stauropsis, Beichb. f., has about eight species, most of which 

 were originally published as a section of Vanda under the name 

 Fieldia, Gaudich., but rightly again separated generically by 

 Eeichenbach as differing as well in the form of the petals as in 

 the want of any spur to the labellum. The name of Fieldia 

 could not, however, be retained, having been previously taken 

 up by a genus of Gesneriacese. I can, however, discover no 

 difference between these species and Eeichenbach' s genus Stau- 

 ropsis, and have therefore adopted the latter name for the whole 

 group. Arachnanthe, Blume, six species, has been regarded by 

 Lindley, as well as by Eeichenbach, as a section of Benanthera. 

 It is also nearly allied to Vanda ; but the labellum is neither 

 saccate nor spurred, as in those genera, and appears to be always 

 articulate on the column. Vanda Lowei, Lindl., rightly added by 

 Eeichenbach to the Arachnanih.es, is remarkable for the two very 



